All addictive behaviors are complex health issues to treat, especially when it’s already in severe stages.
Alcoholism is already defined as a medical disorder characterized by the patients’ inability to control their consumption of alcohol, no matter how much damage it’s causing their health and their lives. However, the symptoms of alcoholism occur in a spectrum since its characteristics vary greatly from one person to another. That said, they all have one thing in common: a major dependence on alcohol, whether psychological or physical.
Also known as alcohol use disorder, this condition is challenging to treat. The physical and psychological dependence, social influences, environment, and risk of relapse all play an important role. That’s why treating alcoholism usually takes a long period of time, anywhere from a few weeks to months at a time. In addition, alcohol withdrawals can be so dangerous that some patients may be required to check into a treatment center, rehab, or hospital just so that they can be safely monitored in the process.
How Small Doses Of Magic Mushrooms Help
However, psilocybin or magic mushrooms have been promising for the treatment of alcohol use disorder. Recent studies have shed light on the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin for alcoholism, specifically its efficacy and quick-acting mechanisms.
A recent study conducted by investigators at the University of Copenhagen together with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism revealed that just one dose of psilocybin taken from magic mushrooms was successful in treating alcohol use disorder (AUD). The study involved 10 adults, who were already seeking treatment for their condition; they were all diagnosed with severe alcohol use disorder.
They were asked to complete a treatment protocol including two sessions for preparation, a 25mg dose of psilocybin, then two integration sessions. The researchers had the primary goal of analyzing whether just one dose of psilocybin already had any impact on alcohol consumption. They found that there was a significant reduction among the patients’ alcohol consumption following psilocybin therapy; this was observed in the quantity of heavy drinking days and average number of alcoholic drinks consumed, which dropped by 37.5 percentage points and 3.4 units respectively.
In addition, the participants also observed sustained decreases in alcohol cravings.
Meanwhile, there was another study from 2022 conducted by investigators at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine that assessed 93 participants with alcohol dependence. For the trials, they were randomly given either 2 doses of psilocybin or a placebo containing antihistamine. The participants, as well as the researchers, weren’t aware of which was given to whom.
It was interesting to find that just 8 months after the treatment, the participants who were given psilocybin were found to reduce heavy drinking by as much as 83%. On the other hand, the participants given placebo cut down drinking by 51%. Other notable findings include the fact that 48% of participants, who were given psilocybin, were found to have quit alcohol completely – also 8 months after treatment.
“Our findings strongly suggest that psilocybin therapy is a promising means of treating alcohol use disorder, a complex disease that has proven notoriously difficult to manage,” explains Michael P. Bogenschutz MD, the study’s senior author as well as a psychiatrist. Bogenschutz also functions as a director of the NYU Langone Center for Psychedelic Medicine.
“As research into psychedelic treatment grows, we find more possible applications for mental health conditions,” adds Dr. Bogenschutz. “Beyond alcohol use disorder, this approach may prove useful in treating other addictions such as cigarette smoking and abuse of cocaine and opioids,” he said.
Why Is This Important?
Over the last few years, thanks to the legalization of marijuana, more people are shifting to the so-called ‘California sober’ lifestyle. Giving up alcohol, as opposed to drinking it, is perceived (rightly so) as the healthier option while getting drunk is no longer seen as cool.
We’re on the right track, but there’s still so much work to be done. No matter how you put it, alcohol is still a deadly and highly poisonous substance that is dangerously so accessible because it’s legal. In fact, alcohol is literally a legal drug that can easily kill you. That said, there is still a whopping 28.9 million people aged 12 and up who struggle with alcohol use disorder, according to the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Simultaneously, there’s more research than ever discussing the harms of alcohol. It does so much more to the human body than harm your liver: the body receives it as poison from the very first sip, and it affects all organs more than you know. The facts are there, and they are horrifying, so it’s in your best interest to stop drinking altogether.
Conclusion
Psilocybin-assisted therapy is already on the rise in North America – though there are also several notable psychedelic healing centers in Mexico and The Americas. That, and the development of psilocybin-focused medical centers in the most renowned medical schools and hospitals in the country are proof of just how popular – and promising – psilocybin is becoming.
So if you are interested in using psychedelics to treat alcoholism, perhaps for yourself or someone in your life, you can now explore these options. Alcoholism is not one that you can or should self-medicate with, due to the extreme dangers imposed by withdrawals. Seek out professional medical supervision for the best, safest results using psilocybin to treat alcoholism!
PSYCHEDELICS FOR ALCOHOLISM, WHAT WE KNOW, READ ON...
